After a two-week break, the men’s tennis team will head to Austin for a tournament featuring regional opponents.Head coach Dave Borelli and the team return to the court Saturday for the third tournament of the season at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association South Central Regional at the University of Texas’ Penick-Allison Tennis Center.

Teams from across Texas and Louisiana will be at the tournament. Notable opponents include the hosting Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M, Baylor, SMU, UT-Arlington and Centenary.

One of the Horned Frogs’ top players, senior Cosmin Cotet will not play because he is in the draw of a professional event this week, Borelli said. Borelli said not having Cotet could affect the results.

Cotet and his doubles partner, junior Kriegler Brink, are one of the top teams, Borelli said, but Brink will enter with a different partner, Borelli said.

“The doubles play of Cotet and the singles play of Cosmin (Cotet) could have a real impact on the tournament,” Borelli said. “I think they’d have a real chance to go far.”

Borelli said the Horned Frogs are a much deeper team than last season with five new freshmen.

“I got a chance to bring in a few new kids and start all over,” Borelli said. “We’re basically starting this program fresh with the way I’d like it to develop and with what my philosophy is. It’s really the first year that I had a chance to start with the potential for some good tennis.”

This year’s squad is younger but plays a higher level of tennis compared to last year’s team, Borelli said.

“The level of their tennis is stronger than last year’s level,” Borelli said. “So even though they may be younger, they may be stronger than some of the kids who played last year.